Caesarea-Phillipi, far to the north of the Jewish land, at the foot of Mount Hermon, had been called Paneas (today known as Banias). The city got its former name from a nearby cave dedicated to the Greek god Pan. The tetrarch Philip (Luke 3:1) rebuilt the city, naming it Caesarea (City of the Emperor) to honour the emperor. To distinguish this city from the other, better-known Caesarea by the sea, the city got the last name Philippi, after this tetrarch.
The city of Caesarea-Phillipi had formerly been called Paneas (today known as Banias) and was located far to the north of the Jewish land, at the foot of Mount Hermon. A nearby cave was dedicated to the Greek god Pan, from whom the city also derived its former name. The tetrarch Philip (Luke 3:1) rebuilt the city and named it Caesarea (meaning City of the Emperor
) in honour of the Roman emperor. To distinguish this place from the other and better-known Caesarea by the sea, the city received the last name Philippi, after Philip himself.1
13 Jésus, étant arrivé dans le territoire de Césarée de Philippe, demanda à ses disciples: Qui suis-je au dire des hommes, moi le Fils de l'homme?